Vehicle- 93 dakota 4x4 auto V6 175K


I would like to change my radiator coolant fluid since it's been like 5 years since it's been changed. Since it costs 80 dollars to get it done at a mechanic shop I rather do it myself and learn. I just need to know the steps to changing the fluid and cleaning my lines.

List of questions

1. What type of antifreeze coolant do I need for my 93 dakota. I live in a 4 season state where it can get very cold at times.

2. How many gallons do I add?

3. What type of thermostat should I buy since I'm replacing my old one? OE or 180 degrees?

4. Is there anything else I should replace or clean when draining my coolant fluid?

Thanks

 

You should check your hoses, too and see if any need to be replaced soon.

 

What I do when I change the fluid is pull the lower radiator hose off the radiator with a bucket underneath and let it all drain out of the engine and radiator. A 5 gallon bucket works good, but you don't want one much smaller cause the capacity is about 3.5 gallons. Once it is all drained out, slide the bucket under the upper hose and take it off the radiator and let any fluid that was above the thermostat drain. Then remove the upper hose from the intake manifold and remove the thermostat. If you want to, take a garden hose and run put it where the thermostat goes and run water down through there to flush it a little better. Then, if you want to make sure you get it all out, pull the heater hoses and drain it and flush them out with a hose too if you want. Then put it all backtogether and fill it up. If you do the heater and everything, it will need all 3.5 gallons to go back in, and you want about a 50/50 mix, so what I would do is get a gallon of straight antifreeze and get a gallon of 50/50 and start by pouring the 50/50 in. The gallon of 50/50 should go in, but not much more after that without the water pump running, so once the radiator is full, start the engine, turn the heater on, and leave the radiator cap off. When you finally start to see it flow, add the straight antifreeze as the level goes down until that gallon is empty, and then add straight water. USE HOT WATER AS THE ENGINE STARTS GETTING WARM!!!! Don't fill it too high at any given time while the air bubbles are being released. When the air bubbles stop and the level quits going down, put the cap back on and fill the overflow bottle. Drive it for a while and check it again when it cools.

Since it gets really cold where you are, you probably want a lot of heat, so you should stick with a 195 deg thermostat. For the antifreeze, I use Prestone antifreeze.

 

I'm going to do a coolant system flush before I change my fluids. I was thinking about using this stuff as an additive since the trucks pretty old and might improve the flow.

http://www.royalpurple.com/radiator-additive.html

 

This is a slightly old thread, but anyways:
Use distilled water when refilling your coolant. (Unless you waste your money on the "pre-mixed" coolant)
Regular tap water can lead to coolant system problems, if not already started.

 

One question about my thermostat.


Somebody told me if I use a 195 degree thermostat that I would have to change it by summer because my trucks engine would run to hot or something.

Is that true?

 

No, 195 is the factory thermostat, so it won't lead to overheating problems.

 

honestly, if you havent done it before, and you want to, this time of year is not the time to learn. either wait till spring or get it done professionally. the last thing you want is a air bubble stuck up near the heater core and have no heat.

 

Man... I should probably do or have mine done since the fluid is real dark and has crap in and even some crap thats floating around in there but its too cold out for me to go out and work on it, engines dosnt overheat or anything so im not to worried about it and ill just deal with mine in the spring/summer...unless some soggests otherwise

 

Good point it's never fun working on a truck when everything is frozen. However, I rather have hot heat now then wait 4 1/2 months for warm weather to come. So I better change my coolant this week and a few other engine parts before the weather gets worse.